Callixte Nsabimana, a former spokesperson of the FLN militia, has been pardoned by President Paul Kagame after he wrote a letter apologizing for engaging in terrorist activities which took civilian lives.
Nsabimana, alias Sankara, was pardoned on Friday, March 24, alongside Paul Rusesabagina, the founder of the terror outfit MRCD, as well as 18 other people convicted of terrorism-related offences, the Minister of Justice, Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, said.
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In an apology letter dated October 11, 2022, written to President Kagame, Nsabimana, 40, said he "had gone astray” and committed crimes against the Rwandan society.
"Your Excellency, Mr. President, I have expressed my apologies to all Rwandans, especially to the people who were affected by the attacks by the FLN fighters for whom I was the spokesperson,” reads the letter.
In April 2022, Nsabimana was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In the letter he said he had "disassociated” himself from the terrorist group, RRM, which he headed, the MRCD, for which he was vice president, and the FLN.
The FLN militia was behind the 2018 and 2019 attacks in south-western Rwanda, in which at least nine civilians lost their lives, more others injured and property was destroyed or looted. Nsabimana, who pleaded guilty throughout trial, said his apology was also based on the "uniqueness” of the government led by President Kagame.
"Since 1994 when you stopped the Genocide Against the Tutsi, forgiveness is what you prioritized more than revenge,” he wrote.
"That vision is what has helped Rwanda take a step forward in unity and reconciliation. Those that you have forgiven personally as the head of state are many and my wish is to be among them.”
"I now deeply regret the time I wasted, especially the many people whom I involved and who are still participating in these wrongful acts. In brief, I am now like Saul who became Paul.
"I feel sad that I am unable to point out the lies of the people who spend their time on social media intoxicating the youth with the same lies they taught me, resulting in me becoming their disciple.”
Nsabimana pledged to never engage in any act that would pose a threat to Rwanda’s security.
He said the individuals, organisations and foreign countries "we used to work with have parted ways and are sworn enemies because I have exposed secrets that used to unite us, around the intention we had to destabilise Rwanda’s security.”
He said he now wanted to build a family before he gets old.
Rusesabagina also wrote to the President expressing regret for atrocities committed by the FLN militia group, an armed wing of the MRCD which he founded. In a letter dated October 18, 2022, Rusesabagina regretted "any connection my work with” the MRCD may have had to violent actions taken by the FLN.
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